Gloria Catacutan Vargas, 1927-2008

Three days ago, my beloved aunt, a great person we lovingly call Ima, passed away while confined at Luna Hospital in Quezon City, Philippines. I'm sure she's resting there in heaven, reunited with Tatay, her husband who prepared the place there, watching over us on earth. Requiescat in pace...

Family members, many relatives and friends here and abroad gave their gestures of love and support. A notice was disseminated by her second son, P/SSupt Noel Vargas...

Pagpanaw ni Ima

Maraming salamat po sa pakikiramay at pakikidalamhati ninyo sa pagpanaw ni Ima noong nakaraang Linggo, 24 August 2008... Last year si Tatay (9 September 2007)...

Nakaburol sa Matuang Bale sa Pampanga
Libing sa Sabado 30 August 2008 at 9:00 a.m.


This message was accompanied by a poem in our mother tongue, Capampangan, which was translated into Tagalog subsequently. A short note follows.

Alang Cayangganan Ing Lugud Na Ning Indu

Alang cayangganan ing lugud ning indu
Keka o penganac supling kang tinubu
Anti ka mong sibul a malati tulu
Malino ka danum, maniaman kang tutu.

Keka o penganac sucat mung ganacan
Cabuctut daca pa tatangka na na ngan
Detang sablang bage a kekang kailangan
Ban king kabait mu e ka wasang-wasang.

Siam ka pang bulan atiyan nang Indu mu
Dakal nang pasakit a kaya binie mu
Menganib yang mate king pangabait mu
Pauli na ning sakit a emu magkanu.

Iniang mibait ka king yatu misapuac
Pemalut na keka ing maputing ulas
Ing kayang delanan e ditac apuyat
Penese na keka mayumu nang gatas.

Potang masakit ka ating panamdaman
Karing keyang tacde karin naka y duyan.
Eya mipatudtud, eya makapangan
Pauli na ning lingap, keka anac ng mal.

Iniang malati ku kenu ku sinusu?
At kenu la tacde ding kinaul kaku?
Ninu ring minuma mingatbang pisngi ku?
Ala't e aliwa nune mu Indu ku.

Ibpa at Indu mu tutung pikabaluan
Ing tutu lang martir king kapibabatan
Mayumung lugud da, mayumung tagimpan
Dapot ing ablas mu mapait nung misan.

Potang matua naka ating panamdaman
Karing kakung tacde, ika ing kandungan
Bakung makayablas king kekang depatan
Indung mal kanaku keti king sikluban.

Pangacu ku Indu potang mirate ka
Aku ing tumanud kagum ning siping mu
Aku ing lumingap, sumaup mibata
Angga king kutkutan Indu yatad daka.

Kakutkut mu Indu aku muli naku
Layun kong lingapan detang kapatad ku
Uling aku namu ing matuang likwan mu
Lumingap karela, ita ning bilin mu.

Kasakit napala ing mamangulila
Likwan mong anac mu keti king masala
Nung akit mula mu mipapanangis la
Paninintunan da, lugud mu karela.

Nung datang na ing Pasku ampong Bayung Banwa
Ditac a tinape babo ning lamesa
Ela makapangan mipaglalawe la
Kabud na tutulu ing luwa karing mata.

Kasakit na pala ing ala nang matua
Ala nang mamaplus potang masakit ka
Ala nang dalungan nung atin problema
Ala ne ing Indu ku, ala na...
Ala na.

Tagalog (slang) translation:

Walang Hangganan Ang Pagmamahal Ng Ina

Walang hangganan ang pagmamahal ng ina
Ikaw na pinanganak, anak kang lumabas
Para kang sibol na maliit ang patak
Malinaw ang iyong tubig, masarap kang totoo.

Ikaw na pinanganak dapat mong tandaan
Nasa sinapupunan ka pa lamang meron ng plano si Inang
'Yung lahat ng bagay na iyong kailangan
Para pagkapanganak sa iyo dika kawawa.

Siyam na buwan ka palang sa tiyan ng ina mo
Marami ng hirap sa kanya binigay mo
Muntik ng mamatay sa pag silang mo
Dahil sa sakit na di mabibili.

Nuong pinanganak ka dito sa mundong ibabaw
Pinagbalot sa iyo puting kumot
Ang kanyang pinagdaanan ay hindi konting puyat
Pang-alaga sa iyo matamis n'yang gatas.

Kapag may sakit ka may dinaramdam
Sa kanyang balikat doon ka n'ya iduyan
'Di s'ya makatulog, di s'ya makakain
Dahil sa pag alaga, sa iyo anak nyang mahal.

Noong maliit ako kanino ako sumuso?
At kanino balikat ang yumakap sa akin?
Sino humalik sa magkabilang pisngi ko?
Wala at hindi iba kundi ang ina ko.

Ama at Ina mo totoo nating alam
Na totoo silang martir sa pag-titiis
Matamis na pagmamahal nila, matamis tamasin
Kaya lang ang binalik mo mapait kung minsan.

Kapag matanda kana't mayroong sakit
Sa aking balikat, kakalungin kita
Para maka bawi sa mga ginawa mo
Inang mahal sa akin dito sa mundo.

Pangako ko Inang kapag ikaw ay maysakit
Ako ang magbabantay dito sa tabi mo
Ako ang mag alaga, tumulong magtiis
Hanggang sa libingan Inang ihahatid kita.

Pagka libing mo Inang ako uuwi na
At aking lilingapin ang mga kapatid ko
Dahil ako na lang ang matandang iniwan mo
Alagaan sila, ito ang bilin mo.

Masakit nga pala ang na uulila
Iniwan mong anak mo dito sa liwanag
Kung makikita mo lamang na nag-iiyakan sila
Hanap-hanap nila, pagmamahal mo sa kanila.

'Pag dating ng pasko at ng bagong taon
Kaunting tinapay taas ng mesa
'Di makakain nag titinginan lamang
Basta nalang tumutulo ang luha sa mga mata.

Masakit pala ang wala ng magulang
Wala ng mag aalaga kapag may sakit ka
Wala ng pagsasabian kapag may problema
Wala na ang Inang ko, wala na...
Wala na.

Ito ay katutubong kanta ng Kapampangan. Ang kapantay na Tagalog na kanta nito ay Ugoy Ng Duyan. A tribute sa lugud (pagmamahal) nina Ta'ta o Ta'tang at Inda, I'ma o Indu. The most famous Kapampangan songs are: Atin Ku Pung Sing-sing, Legwan Na Alayu King Bulsa, Aklis Ning Lub Ku... If you happen to know any Katutubong Kapampangan song, hardly heared or sang, paki e-mail sa akin para ma isaplaka/disk ng Kundiman Ning Kapampangan... Salamat!

Mensahe Ibat Kang Ninong Amor

Makatagulaling ya ing poema babu, kang Ima, kakang Glo, malugud a pengari, mapagmasabal a kapatad at kamaganak, ulirang talaturu at meging tapat a asawa at masuyung penganak. Ing bakas mong likwan keti king masala, ya ing matibe sandigan ding kekang bunga at sapni balang mipanginlag king maruc a gawa at mie lang lulugud king Guinu at parang tau. Ipangadi mi ing tanggapan naka ning Mayupa ketang karinan nang alang kapupusan a ligaya at katajimikan. Kaluguran daka Ate Glo.

King panga-anggu na bie ning pisan kung alang pilatan, Mrs. Gloria de Jesus Catacutan vda. Vargas, piragli keng gewa ining macuyad a poema at kaya at aliwa pang indu makaparikil ya...

Lugud King Mal A Indu
neng Almario C. de Jesus

Nung kakung isulat, lugud ku king Indu
Letrang Pilak o Guintu, ela pa makagyu
Uling Sinta keya, Sisuan na ning Pusu
Karing kandungan na, meragul, tinubu.

Ninu mo'y Indu mo? Metung yang Kometa,
mebaldug, kinislap, ya ing minie sala...
king dalumdum ning bye, bang ding kekang mata
akit da' ng dalise, at tapat a sinta.

King pangabait mu, itang penandaman na
alos kamatayan, ya ing meging dalo na.
Ena na pikabyang itang sakit at pibata na
baka musang luntu, keti king masala.

Pepasusu naka, at peparagul pa
karing uma't aplus a alang kapara.
At king pamagaral ing sabla tiru na
ytang Lugud king Dios, king tau't balen pa.

Anya nung ma-anggu ing bye nang Indu mu,
Anti mung mepitna, sala na ning yatu.
Ing silbag nang lugud nita nang Bathala
kabud na mipanpan, gulutan ding Tala.

Ala nang mamapis, kakaul, mumuma
ala nang tuturu at keka mamingwa,
ala kang lapitan busal na ning lugma
dapot ing lugud mo keya, e mapupus at dakila.

Miss Me, But Let Me Go

In July 2000, Tito Jim sent me a letter with accompanying documents that were largely written in Capampangan.  One is written in English, penned by Fr. William M. Yabao, a Filipino priest and Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Victories Roman Catholic Church in Jersey City.  What follows is the poem...

 

Miss Me, But Let Me Go

Fr. William M. Yabao, OLV

 

When I come to the end of the road,

and the sun has set for me,

I want no tears in a gloom-filled room,

why I cry for a soul set free.

 

Miss me a little but not too long,

and not with your head bowed low,

remember the love that once we shared,

miss me, but let me go.

 

For this is a journey we all must take,

and each must take it alone,

it's all part of the Master's plan,

miss me, but let me go.

 

When you are lonely and sick of heart,

go to friends we know,

then, laugh at the things we used to do,

miss me, but let me go.

 

 

We have many important things to do in this life; let's keep away from distractions (e.g., politics, division, etc.) and be preoccupied by the love of neighbor, which comes in various forms.  God be with all of us!

Qng Mutya Ning Aslagan

Back in July 2000, Uncle Jim Camaya sent me some excepts from a book that came from Dr. Catacutan; it contains some of the works of poets and writers of our province, Indung Capampangan.  The following is the second of such tilamsic ding pluma ding matenacan nang anac ning balen Capampangan...

 

Qng Mutya Ning Aslagan

Sinulat neng Juez Zoilo Hilario

San Fernando, Capampangan

(Capampangan Language)

 

Baluan cung maragul at alang catimbang

Ing casaquitan mung quecang tatangisan,

inya, Balayan cu, ba'ra cang ilimbang

bisa cu pang dalit agya mu mang misan.

 

Qng amanung cacu pigtumaila ra

Ing queca lugud cu lugud buri cung ipinta;

Queca yang pusu cu, queca ya ing lira,

Caladua queca ya, queca ining sinta.

 

Ing tronu mu simsam de man ding Palalu

pulisan me na yang lua mung masalusu,

atin ca pang Tronu qng busal cung salu

bucud me, Indu cu: "Ya cabud ing pusu."

 

Itan mung sambitan, payuan yaning dusa;

Qng justisia ning Dios carin ca manaya,

Ating capupusan ing sablaang parusa

Caibat ning dalumdum 'ting lunto alaya.

 

Quetang rebolusion balu mung linamac

qng pamagsarili ing dayang dinanac.

ding anti ngan queca, calma ra man jamac

labuad lang matapang, e lajing patianac.

 

Nung napun qng sican dang lusuc ding tacde

ing catimauan mu icua mung agale,

ing qng bie sarili bayung pangapacde

qng sican ning isip ngeni mu pamale!

 

Caring quecang anac a peparangalan

beit at linangap qng candungan mung nuan,

ing queca e lugud bague yang quintalan

qng lagiu nang Judas qng libutad canuan.

 

Ba' cang luguran pa canacu la dapat

aduang pusung queca qng lugud miyulat!

Bayu cu calinguan quing versung talapat

paclian cu ne pa mu ing cacung paniulat.

 

Busal ning pusu cung nung nu e pipagiu

ing queca pacamal a quening lub tintu,

Indung Filipinas, tatac da ca lagiu

e qng letrang uling: Caring Letrang Guintu.

 

Republicang maslag, mabandi't timaua

a taguri na sa queca ning dila.

Bayu cu sa mate ticdo cang timaua

aqua que pang uman ing quecang Bandila!

 

Buri mu neng bation o caya silipan

ing Aldo panayan ba 'mu nong timanan?

Mequeni, muquiat ca.  Indu cung alipan

babo ring pago cu ba 'ra cang pusanan!

 

--Juez Zoilo Hilario

c. 1922

Up On The Roof

Sometimes I'm asked by friends why there's a lot of trouble around; it seems that we're surprised.  Trouble of any kind is apparent in all parts of the globe.  Bombings are now current in London, Egypt and Iraq; corners show utter poverty and unemployment.  Situation is often aggravated by politicians, whom we as citizens should be wary of.  One small thing about a political enemy is exaggerated to astronomical proportions!  Law makers are the first to break the Law!

 

A very powerful appliance that contributes to the chaos is the TV; media becomes very powerful in trashing the minds of people, especially the young.  People, we have a choice!  If you can't do away with the TV completely, at least find better alternatives once in a while.  Maybe think about the following song.  Let's go back to nature!  One reason why I like James Taylor...

 

Up On The Roof

by Gerry Goffin and Carole King

 

When this old world

Starts getting me down

And people are just too much

For me to face

I climb 'way up

To the top of the stairs

And all my cares

Just drift right in to space.

 

On the roof

It's peaceful as can be

And there the world below

Can't bother me.

 

Let me tell you now,

When I come home

Feelin' tired and beat

I go up where the air

Is fresh and sweet.

 

I get away

From the hustling crowds

And all that rat race noise

Down in the street.

 

On the roof's

The only place I know

Where you just have to wish

To make it so.

 

Oh, let's go up on the roof.

At night the stars

Put on a show for free

And, darling, you can share it all

with me.

 

I keep tellin' you,

Right smack dead in the middle

of town

I found a paradise

That's trouble proof.

 

So if this world starts

Getting you down,

There's room enough for two

Up on the roof,

Up on the roof.

 

Ev'rything is all right up on

the roof.

Oh, come on, baby up on

the roof.

Up on the roof.

Dalit Ning Lahi

Back in July 2000, Uncle Jim Camaya sent me some excepts from a book that came from Dr. Catacutan; it contains some of the works of poets and writers of our province, Indung Capampangan.  The following is the first of such tilamsic ding pluma ding matenacan nang anac ning balen Capampangan...

 

Dalit Ning Lahi

(Philippine National Anthem, Capampangan language)

 

Labuad a mapalad

Mutya nang lalu sampat

Ning dayat-malat

A queca misapuac.

 

Budning sultana

Guinu na ning Malasia

Pemalena'na

Ning tapat a sinta.

 

Caring bunduc mu at caqueuan

Batis, ulu't pulung cacal

Bitasang macalimbagan

Ing quecang catimauan.

 

Qng bandila mung maningning

A tecutan da ring tacsil

Capilan man e culimlim

Ing aldo na at batuin.

 

Labuad ning aldo, sinta't tepangan

Mayumung diling queque ca mie

Ing queca que ngan paimate.

 

- Mariano Proceso Pabalan

Baculoud, Capampangan

Septiembre 29, 1898

You've Got A Friend

The following song written by Carole King I remembered became a theme song of my high school senior class back in 1981.  In this world of darkness which some people call the post-Christian era, the song offers a very positive thing.  There is always a friend out there willing to help you in all your worries.  In fact, God is there even if all our other friends fail us.  So here goes...

 

 

When you're down and troubled

And you need some love and care

And nothin',

Nothin' is goin' right,

 

Close your eyes and think of me

And soon I will be there,

To brighten up

Even your darkest night.

 

Refrain:

You just call out my name

And you know wherever I am

I'll come runnin' to see you again.

Winter, spring, summer or fall

All you have to do is call

And I'll be there.

(Yes I will)

You've got a friend.

 

If the sky above you

Should grow dark and full of clouds

And that ol' north wind

Should begin to blow,

Keep your head together

And call my name out loud;

Soon you'll hear me knockin'

At your door.  (Ref.)

 

Now ain't it good to know

That you've got a friend

When people can be so cold?

They'll hurt you,

Yes, and desert you

And take your soul

If you let them.

Oh, but don't you let them.  (Ref.)

 

 

Yes, we are in a lot of darkness; but I really believe what the late John Paul II said that we are in the springtime of faith, a hope that should not die in time's passing.  All men and women of good will should stand their ground, and not allow ourselves to be tossed around by the waves and lose our direction.  Sooner or later, lines will be drawn; we'll choose the right path.